Thesaurus results for PRINCIPLE

principle

noun

Definition of principle

as in rule

something (such as a belief or value) that helps a person know what is right and wrong and that influences their actions He refused to participate on principle. It is against her principles to steal.

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of principle The United States of America was founded on the principle that individual rights do not come from government. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The Supreme Court cited a longstanding legal principle that judges shouldn’t change voting rules too close to election day. — Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 For the Chickahominy Tribe, stewardship is not an abstract principle. — Dana Adkins, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 The international community must reaffirm its commitment to respecting the cultural value of place naming and to articulate responsible place-naming principles, especially for geographical features that are shared across international borders. — Reuben Rose-Redwood, Time, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for principle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for principle

Noun

Voters in six states will soon decide whether to impose or expand voter identification requirements, including rules requiring mail voters to provide part of a driver’s license or Social Security number.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 25 Oct. 2026
Some states, however, have chosen not to adopt the federal rule because of concerns about near-term revenue losses.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of rule

Noun

Florida law imposes limits on direct contributions to state candidates but generally allows political committees to accept unlimited contributions, subject to applicable reporting and other legal requirements.

— Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
Twenty-seven states — including all where Republicans control both the legislature and governor’s office — already have such laws.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of law

Noun

Although his roles were ostensibly romantic leads, Astaire had an almost radically unorthodox appeal—one that, in its urbanity, cosmopolitanism, elegance, and grace, challenged the prevailing standards for male movie stardom.

— David Hajdu, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
If students are not meeting basic academic standards, though, state governments sometimes step in and take over the day-to-day operations of entire school districts.

— Daniel H. Robinson, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of standard

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principals

principle

principled

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“Principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/principle. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of principle

noun

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